jkowtko

As Tommy just mentioned above, you can get aftermarket dash installation kits that replace the stock panels in your car with ones that will hold the DIN or Double-DIN aftermarket radios. Here's one example:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-2004-C-CLASS-SINGLE-DOUBLE-2-DIN-COMPLETE-CAR-STEREO-DASH-INSTALLATION-KIT-/390644037456?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A2002%7CModel%3AC230&hash=item5af432f750&vxp=mtr
The cavity in your dash is already large enough to hold the double-DIN units. It may be tight on depth ... on my radio there is less than an inch of space behind the radio and you need space to vent the hot air.

As for radios, I bought a Pioneer AVIC z130bt refurbished from a dealer on eBay, for around $500. You can find double-din radios from $100 to $1500, depending on features and whether new/refurb/used.

jkowtko

Double-DIN is good for:
1 folder/file traversal for SD/USB cards installed into the radio
2 usability of menus and configuration features overall
3 touch-screen screen navigation
4 GPS

I use/like all of the above on my car's unit. I have a single-DIN Pioneer bluetooth stereo in my son's car ... the lack of #s 1 and 2 above are enough for me to never want a single-DIN

tommy

Yeah, it's all personal choice, obviously. I listen mostly to Sirius through my original crappy Bose stereo via a Starmate attached to the right side of the dash, and I've got a Proclip right above that for my iphone, so for me, that works. If I had a spare $2,500, though, I'd probably get a Nak MB VI, a real sub, amp, and wiring, but luckily, my sunroof fixed that little problem.

glenrhoades

I have a couple of those I used in prior vehicles and I can't use them because the cassette door will not close with a cord in the way.

samaritrey

Find the thinnest corded cassette adapter you can and you can make the door close I did that for years and when I wanted to remove it hit the button and pull just a slight amount on the cord and it would always come right out. Also they do make bluetooth ones as well but my way is much more fun.

glenrhoades

Thanks! I will see what I can find.

TTR

I had the cassette adapter for a while and there's trial and error but you can get it to sounds pretty damn good. Though I must caution that in my experience the cassette got stuck on it's own and won't come out and most importantly doesn't allow you to use it to play anything any more. Had to switch to radio trans, so sad.

glenrhoades

Found a cassette adapter with a pretty flat cord and the cassette door closed easily without forcing it. Sounds great! Thanks!

Holmes5518

Sucks to have the Bose system. I have really no options for radio replacement unless all new speaker wires are run and a new amp is used. It adds up fast.

jkowtko

But when you do it sounds real nice ...

I had the base system in my car ... did the head amp replacement first, and then speakers ... but eventually rewired with amp in the trunk because the stock power and wiring just didn't do it for me ...

corkshoppe

i upgraded to command 2.0 and added aux input to wiring, easy install and factory look.